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Maryann Doherty, from left, grandson Gino, 10, and daughter Tracy Mercuri, all of Clark Summit, Pa., fuel up with snacks before Cape May County' Pedal for a Cause bike tour Saturday. 'It's just a good excuse to come to the Cape,' Mercuri says.

Cyclists pedal across Cape May County in Kiwanis, chamber outing

Maryann Doherty, from left, grandson Gino, 10, and daughter Tracy Mercuri, all of Clark Summit, Pa., fuel up with snacks before Cape May County' Pedal for a Cause bike tour Saturday. 'It's just a good excuse to come to the Cape,' Mercuri says.

The Kiwanis Club of Cape May and the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May on Saturday co-sponsored the self-guided bike tour Cycling for a Cause.

For years, the two groups have worked to better Cape May, but until Saturday, they never had worked together to accomplish this goal.

“We’ve been cohabitating in the area, and we’d like to work closer together,” Cape May Kiwanis President Tom Hynes said. “A lot of times, we’re working for the same goal.”

As bicyclists registered at 8:30 a.m. for the event at Cape May Point State Park, they were given a rubber wristband, water bottle and a map of participating businesses, most of which doubled as water stations. Participants included the Cape May Artists’ Cooperative, the Nature Conservancy of South Cape Meadows and the Beach Plum Farm.

The $20 fee included lunch. Proceeds benefited the Chamber’s Community Outreach program and Kiwanis’ scholarship fund.

By 9:30, about 20 people had signed in for the bike ride, including Tracy Mercuri, her 10-year-old son, Gino, and her mother, Maryann Doherty. They heard about the event on Facebook and decided to make the trek from Clark Summit, Pa., for a weekend in Cape May, Mercuri said.

“It’s just a good excuse to come to the Cape,” she said. “We’ve been coming here for years. It’s been a long winter, so we needed to get away and come down to the beach.”

She said their day’s itinerary included stops at Lake Lily, the Willow Creek Winery and Higbee Beach.

The organizers said the turnout was a little disappointing, but they hope the collaboration will grow. Next week, the groups will join for a 10k and 5k footrace. And the groups are likely to hold a bike ride next year — or maybe sooner.

“I think it will be annual,” said Doreen Talley, the Cape May chamber’s marketing and events director. “But you never know when we might say, ‘Hey, let’s try that again.’”